Tyrosine derivatives and compositions comprising them

ABSTRACT

Provided herein are methods comprising providing a tyrosine derivative and a solid particulate material (and, optionally, melanin) and applying force to said tyrosine derivative and said solid particulate material for a time and under conditions effective to impregnate at least one of said tyrosine derivative and said solid particulate material with the other of said tyrosine derivative and said solid particulate material. The invention also provides compositions comprising at least one of a tyrosine derivative impregnated with a solid particulate material and a solid particulate material impregnated with a tyrosine derivative.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.14/062,194, filed Oct. 24, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/894,279, filed Oct. 22, 2013, theentireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present inventions relate generally to compositions and methods fordelivering pharmaceuticals.

BACKGROUND

To achieve an optimal therapeutic effect in humans or animals, variousmethods and processes have been developed to administer pharmaceuticalcompounds. A number of routes of administration have been developed fordrug delivery including nasal, oral, intramuscular, intravenous, anal,and vaginal. These routes have shown varying degrees of success fordifferent types of pharmaceuticals.

It is generally very expensive to develop new drug molecules and thenbring them to market. There also have been numerous older drugs thatinitially showed promise but proved to be too toxic and/or unstable touse as medications. The use of alternative delivery techniques holds thepotential to increase safety and/or efficacy for these and other drugs.The costs associated with developing such techniques are generally muchlower than those associated with identifying and developing a completelynovel drug.

There remains a need for drug delivery techniques having relativelybroad applicability.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides compositions and methods for deliveringsolid particulate materials, particularly solid particulate materialscomprising one or more pharmaceutically active ingredient such as thoseassociated with the treatment of cancer. In certain embodiments, theinvention provides methods comprising providing a tyrosine derivativeand a solid particulate material (and, optionally, melanin) and applyingforce to said tyrosine derivative and said solid particulate materialfor a time and under conditions effective to impregnate at least one ofsaid tyrosine derivative and said solid particulate material with theother of said tyrosine derivative and said solid particulate material.In other embodiments, the invention provides compositions comprising atleast one of a tyrosine derivative impregnated with a solid particulatematerial and a solid particulate material impregnated with a tyrosinederivative. Such composition optionally can also include melanin.According to the present invention, such compositions are administeredto a patient in need thereof. In other embodiments, the inventionprovides compositions comprising a tyrosine derivative, melanin, and asolid particulate material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The present subject matter may be understood more readily by referenceto the following detailed description which forms a part of thisdisclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited tothe specific products, methods, conditions or parameters describedand/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only andis not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention.

Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical terms used inconnection with the present application shall have the meanings that arecommonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Further,unless otherwise required by context, singular terms shall includepluralities and plural terms shall include the singular.

As employed above and throughout the disclosure, the following terms andabbreviations, unless otherwise indicated, shall be understood to havethe following meanings.

In the present disclosure the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include the plural reference, and reference to a particular numericalvalue includes at least that particular value, unless the contextclearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “acompound” is a reference to one or more of such compounds andequivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth. Theterm “plurality”, as used herein, means more than one. When a range ofvalues is expressed, another embodiment incudes from the one particularand/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values areexpressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it isunderstood that the particular value forms another embodiment. Allranges are inclusive and combinable.

As used herein, the terms “component,” “composition,” “composition ofcompounds,” “compound,” “drug,” “pharmacologically active agent,”“active agent,” “therapeutic,” “therapy,” “treatment,” or “medicament”are used interchangeably herein to refer to a compound or compounds orcomposition of matter which, when administered to a subject (human oranimal) induces a desired pharmacological and/or physiologic effect bylocal and/or systemic action.

As used herein, the terms “treatment” or “therapy” (as well as differentforms thereof) include preventative (e.g., prophylactic), curative orpalliative treatment. As used herein, the term “treating” includesalleviating or reducing at least one adverse or negative effect orsymptom of a condition, disease or disorder. This condition, disease ordisorder can be cancer.

As employed above and throughout the disclosure the term “effectiveamount” refers to an amount effective, at dosages, and for periods oftime necessary, to achieve the desired result with respect to thetreatment of the relevant disorder, condition, or side effect. It willbe appreciated that the effective amount of components of the presentinvention will vary from patient to patient not only with respect to theparticular compound, component or composition selected, the route ofadministration, and the ability of the components to elicit a desiredresult in the individual, but also with respect to factors such as thedisease state or severity of the condition to be alleviated, hormonelevels, age, sex, weight of the individual, the state of being of thepatient, and the severity of the pathological condition being treated,concurrent medication or special diets then being followed by theparticular patient, and other factors which those skilled in the artwill recognize, with the appropriate dosage being at the discretion ofthe attending physician. Dosage regimes may be adjusted to provideimproved therapeutic response. An effective amount is also one in whichany toxic or detrimental effects of the components are outweighed by thetherapeutically beneficial effects.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable” refers to those compounds, materials,compositions, and/or dosage forms which are, within the scope of soundmedical judgment, suitable for contact with the tissues of human beingsand animals without excessive toxicity, irritation, allergic response,or other problem complications commensurate with a reasonablebenefit/risk ratio.

Within the present invention, the disclosed compounds may be prepared inthe form of pharmaceutically acceptable salts. “Pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts” refer to derivatives of the disclosed compoundswherein the parent compound is modified by making acid or base saltsthereof. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but arenot limited to, mineral or organic acid salts of basic residues such asamines; alkali or organic salts of acidic residues such as carboxylicacids; and the like. The pharmaceutically acceptable salts include theconventional non-toxic salts or the quaternary ammonium salts of theparent compound formed, for example, from non-toxic inorganic or organicacids. For example, such conventional non-toxic salts include thosederived from inorganic acids such as hydrochloric, hydrobromic,sulfuric, sulfamic, phosphoric, nitric and the like; and the saltsprepared from organic acids such as acetic, propionic, succinic,glycolic, stearic, lactic, malic, tartaric, citric, ascorbic, pamoic,maleic, hydroxymaleic, phenylacetic, glutamic, benzoic, salicylic,sulfanilic, 2-acetoxybenzoic, fumaric, toluenesulfonic, methanesulfonic,ethane disulfonic, oxalic, isethionic, and the like. Thesephysiologically acceptable salts are prepared by methods known in theart, e.g., by dissolving the free amine bases with an excess of the acidin aqueous alcohol, or neutralizing a free carboxylic acid with analkali metal base such as a hydroxide, or with an amine.

Compounds described herein can be prepared in alternate forms. Forexample, many amino-containing compounds can be used or prepared as anacid addition salt. Often such salts improve isolation and handlingproperties of the compound. For example, depending on the reagents,reaction conditions and the like, compounds as described herein can beused or prepared, for example, as their hydrochloride or tosylate salts.Isomorphic crystalline forms, all chiral and racemic forms, N-oxide,hydrates, solvates, and acid salt hydrates, are also contemplated to bewithin the scope of the present invention.

Certain acidic or basic compounds of the present invention may exist aszwitterions. All forms of the compounds, including free acid, free baseand zwitterions, are contemplated to be within the scope of the presentinvention. It is well known in the art that compounds containing bothamino and carboxy groups often exist in equilibrium with theirzwitterionic forms. Thus, any of the compounds described herein thatcontain, for example, both amino and carboxy groups, also includereference to their corresponding zwitterions.

The term “stereoisomers” refers to compounds that have identicalchemical constitution, but differ as regards the arrangement of theatoms or groups in space. The term “enantiomers” refers to stereoisomersthat are mirror images of each other that are non-superimposable.

The term “administering” means either directly administering a compoundor composition of the present invention, or administering a prodrug,derivative or analog which will form an equivalent amount of the activecompound or substance within the body.

The terms “subject,” “individual,” and “patient” are usedinterchangeably herein, and refer to an animal, for example a human, towhom treatment, including prophylactic treatment, with thepharmaceutical composition according to the present invention, isprovided. The term “subject” as used herein refers to human andnon-human animals. The terms “non-human animals” and “non-human mammals”are used interchangeably herein and include all vertebrates, e.g.,mammals, such as non-human primates, (particularly higher primates),sheep, dog, rodent, (e.g. mouse or rat), guinea pig, goat, pig, cat,rabbits, cows, horses and non-mammals such as reptiles, amphibians,chickens, and turkeys.

The term “inhibitor” as used herein includes compounds that inhibit theexpression or activity of a protein, polypeptide or enzyme and does notnecessarily mean complete inhibition of expression and/or activity.Rather, the inhibition includes inhibition of the expression and/oractivity of a protein, polypeptide or enzyme to an extent, and for atime, sufficient to produce the desired effect.

The term “promoter” as used herein includes compounds that promote theexpression or activity of a protein, polypeptide or enzyme and does notnecessarily mean complete promotion of expression and/or activity.Rather, the promotion includes promotion of the expression and/oractivity of a protein, polypeptide or enzyme to an extent, and for atime, sufficient to produce the desired effect.

Representative therapeutic treatment methods include those in which thecancer is non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer,cervical cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, brain cancer, spinalcancer, liver cancer, bone cancer, osteosarcoma, lymphoid cancer,thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervicalcancer, or testicular cancer. In other embodiments, the cancer isleukemia or lymphoma.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods comprisingproviding a tyrosine derivative and a solid particulate material andapplying force to said tyrosine derivative and said solid particulatematerial for a time and under conditions effective to impregnate atleast one of said tyrosine derivative and said solid particulatematerial with the other of said tyrosine derivative and said solidparticulate material. In other embodiments, the invention provides acomposition comprising at least one of a tyrosine derivative impregnatedwith a solid particulate material and a solid particulate materialimpregnated with a tyrosine derivative. In other embodiments, theinvention provides methods comprising providing a tyrosine derivative,melanin, and a solid particulate material; applying force to saidtyrosine derivative, said melanin, and said solid particulate materialfor a time; and administering said tyrosine derivative, melanin, andsaid solid particulate material to a patient in need thereof.

The tyrosine derivative can be capable of existing in isomeric forms.Specifically, the tyrosine derivative can be in its L-form or in itsD-form.

Representative tyrosine derivatives include one or more of methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(2-chloro-4 hydroxyphenyl) propanoate, D-tyrosine ethylester hydrochloride, methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(2,6-dichloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) propanoateH-D-Tyr(TBU)-allyl ester HCl, methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(3-chloro-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl) propanoate, methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(2-chloro-3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl) propanoate, methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(4-[(2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl) methoxy] phenyl)propanoate, methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)propanoate, methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(3-chloro-5-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate, diethyl 2-(acetylamino)-2-(4-[(2-chloro-6-fluorobenzyl) oxy]benzyl malonate, methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(3-chloro-4-methoxyphenyl)propanoate, methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(3-chloro-4-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)propanoate, methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(2,6-dichloro-3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl) propanoate,methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate,H-DL-tyr-OME HCl, H-3,5-diiodo-tyr-OME HCl, H-D-3,5-diiodo-tyr-OME HCl,H-D-tyr-OME HCl, D-tyrosine methyl ester hydrochloride, D-tyrosine-omeHCl, methyl D-tyrosinate hydrochloride, H-D-tyr-OMe.HCl, D-tyrosinemethyl ester HCl, H-D-Tyr-OMe-HCl, (2R)-2-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, (2R)-2-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) methyl esterhydrochloride, methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoatehydrochloride, methyl (2R)-2-azanyl-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoatehydrochloride, 3-chloro-L-tyrosine, 3-nitro-L-tyrosine,3-nitro-L-tyrosine ethyl ester hydrochloride, DL-m-tyrosine,DL-o-tyrosine, Boc-Tyr (3,5-I2)-OSu, Fmoc-tyr(3-NO2)—OH,α-methyl-L-tyrosine, α-methyl-D-tyrosine, and α-methyl-DL-tyrosine. Incertain embodiments of the invention, the tyrosine derivative isα-methyl-L-tyrosine. In other embodiments the tyrosine derivative isα-methyl-D-tyrosine.

In suitable embodiments of the invention, the solid particulate materialis soluble in water. In other suitable embodiments of the invention, thesolid particulate material is not soluble in water.

In other embodiments of the invention, the solid particulate material isor comprises a pharmaceutically active ingredient. That pharmaceuticallyactive ingredient can have therapeutic activity in the treatment ofcancer. A representative solid particulate material is or comprises atleast one of a selective estrogen receptor modulator, an aromataseinhibitor, a signal transduction inhibitor, a drug that modifies thefunction of proteins that regulate gene expression and other cellularfunctions, a drug that induces cancer cells to undergo apoptosis, and adrug that interferes with angiogenesis. Specifically, thepharmaceutically active ingredient is one or more of FDA-approved cancerdrugs that include selective estrogen receptor modulators such astamoxifen, toremifene (Fareston®), and fulvestrant (Faslodex®);aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole (Arimidex®), exemestane(Aromasin®), and letrozole (Femara®); signal transduction inhibitorssuch as imatinib mesylate (Gleevec®), dasatinib (Sprycel®), nilotinib(Tasigna®), bosutinib (Bosulif®), lapatinib (Tykerb®), gefitinib(Iressa®), erlotinib (Tarceva®), temsirolimus (Torisel®), everolimus(Afinitor®), vandetanib (Caprelsa®), vemurafenib (Zelboraf®), andcrizotinib (Xalkori®); drugs that modify the function of proteins thatregulate gene expression and other cellular functions, such asvorinostat (Zolinza®), romidepsin (Istodax®), bexarotene (Targretin®),alitretinoin (Panretin®), tretinoin (Vesanoid®); drugs that inducecancer cells to undergo apoptosis, such as bortezomib (Velcade®),carfilzomib (Kyprolis™), and pralatrexate (Folotyn®); and drugs thatinterfere with angiogenesis, such as sorafenib (Nexavar®), sunitinib(Sutent®), pazopanib (Votrient®), regorafenib (Stivarga®), andcabozantinib (Cometriq™). Additional cancer drugs amenable to thepresent invention include denileukin diftitox (Ontak®), ziv-aflibercept(Zaltrap®), cisplatin, cisplatinum, (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)),carboplatin, oxaliplatin, benzyl isothiocyanate, acetylcholine, anddihydrotestosterone (DHT). It should be appreciated, however, that otherdrugs that exist in particulate form may be amenable to processing inaccordance with the present invention.

In another embodiment of the invention, the methods comprise providing atyrosine derivative and a solid particulate material, applying force tosaid tyrosine derivative and said solid particulate material for a timeand under conditions effective to achieve said impregnation, and addinghydrogen peroxide to said tyrosine derivative and said solid particulatematerial before or (preferably) after applying said force.

The forces applied to the tyrosine derivative and the solid particulatematerial (and, optionally, the melanin) need not be applied by anyparticular means. In certain embodiments of the invention, the force isapplied by contacting said tyrosine derivative and said particulatematerial with at least one ceramic member, such as with a mortar andpestle. Preferred methods and devices, in which the force applied isaccelerative force, are disclosed in the patent application entitled“High-Speed Centrifugal Mixing Devices and Methods of Use,” filed onOct. 22, 2013 and given U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/059,837.When force is applied, the softer of the substances typically will beimpregnated by the other(s). It should be appreciated, however, that thepotential exists for the softer of two particulates to effectimpregnation. In this regard, impregnation according to the presentinvention can involve, but does not require, a portion of one type ofparticulate extending into a portion of another type of particulate. Forexample, one type of particulate can be impregnated by another by fullysurrounding or partially surrounding it. Thus, impregnation according tothe present invention is effected where at least two different type ofparticulates are sufficiently conjoined that they exhibit the physicalproperties of a single type of particulate when exposed to normalmaterial handling procedures such as sieving and pouring.

The compositions prepared in accordance with the present inventionpreferably are administered to a patient in need thereof. Representativeroutes of administration include oral, nasal, subcutaneous, intravenous,intramuscular, transdermal, vaginal, rectal or in any combinationthereof. Nasal routes of administration can be especially useful becausethe blood brain barrier is thinnest in the posterior portion of thenasal cavity. This can be a preferred route of administration fortreatments for, for example, brain and spinal cancers. Thepharmaceutically active ingredient preferably is administered using thesame dosages and dosing schedule that is otherwise applicable for agiven indication, although it is believed that administration with atyrosine derivative in accordance with the present invention will permitthe use of a lower dosage to achieve the same efficacy.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the step of administering saidtyrosine derivative and said solid particulate material (and,optionally, melanin) to a patient in need thereof can include applyingan electromagnetic field to said patient. The electromagnetic field canbe from radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light,ultraviolet light, x-rays or gamma rays. While not intending to be boundby any particular mechanism of operation, it is believed that theapplication of the electromagnetic field can be used to increase theefficacy of one or more pharmaceutically active ingredient as, forexample, by causing it and/or an accompanying molecule to enter agaseous phase.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and alterations of the invention can be made withoutdeparting from the broad scope of the appended claims. Some of thesehave been discussed above and others will be apparent to those skilledin the art.

What is claimed:
 1. A method comprising: providing a tyrosine derivativeand a solid particulate material; and applying force to said tyrosinederivative and said solid particulate material for a time and underconditions effective to impregnate at least one of said tyrosinederivative and said solid particulate material with the other of saidtyrosine derivative and said solid particulate material.
 2. The methodof claim 1 further comprising adding hydrogen peroxide to said tyrosinederivative and said solid particulate material after applying said forceto said tyrosine derivative and said solid particulate material.
 3. Acomposition comprising at least one of a tyrosine derivative impregnatedwith a solid particulate material and a solid particulate materialimpregnated with a tyrosine derivative.
 4. The composition of claim 3wherein the tyrosine derivative is capable of existing in isomericforms.
 5. The composition of claim 4 wherein the tyrosine derivative isin its L-form.
 6. The composition of claim 4 wherein the tyrosinederivative is in its D-form.
 7. The composition of claim 3 wherein thetyrosine derivative is one or more of methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(2-chloro-4hydroxyphenyl) propanoate, D-tyrosine ethyl ester hydrochloride, methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(2,6-dichloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) propanoateH-D-Tyr(TBU)-allyl ester HCl, methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(3-chloro-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl) propanoate, methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(2-chloro-3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl) propanoate, methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(4-[(2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl) methoxy] phenyl)propanoate, methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)propanoate, methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(3-chloro-5-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate, diethyl 2-(acetylamino)-2-(4-[(2-chloro-6-fluorobenzyl) oxy]benzyl malonate, methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(3-chloro-4-methoxyphenyl)propanoate, methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(3-chloro-4-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)propanoate, methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(2,6-dichloro-3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl) propanoate,methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate,H-DL-tyr-OME HCl, H-3,5-diiodo-tyr-OME HCl, H-D-3,5-diiodo-tyr-OME HCl,H-D-tyr-OME HCl, D-tyrosine methyl ester hydrochloride, D-tyrosine-omeHCl, methyl D-tyrosinate hydrochloride, H-D-tyr-OMe.HCl, D-tyrosinemethyl ester HCl, H-D-Tyr-OMe-HCl, (2R)-2-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, (2R)-2-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) methyl esterhydrochloride, methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoatehydrochloride, methyl (2R)-2-azanyl-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoatehydrochloride, 3-chloro-L-tyrosine, 3-nitro-L-tyrosine,3-nitro-L-tyrosine ethyl ester hydrochloride, DL-m-tyrosine,DL-o-tyrosine, Boc-Tyr (3,5-I2)-OSu, Fmoc-tyr(3-NO2)—OH,α-methyl-L-tyrosine, α-methyl-D-tyrosine, and α-methyl-DL-tyrosine. 8.The composition of claim 7 wherein the tyrosine derivative isα-methyl-L-tyrosine.
 9. The composition of claim 7 wherein the tyrosinederivative is α-methyl-D-tyrosine.
 10. The composition of claim 3wherein the solid particulate material is soluble in water.
 11. Thecomposition of claim 3 wherein the solid particulate material is notsoluble in water.
 12. The composition of claim 3 wherein the solidparticulate material is or comprises a pharmaceutically activeingredient.
 13. The composition of claim 12 wherein the pharmaceuticallyactive ingredient has therapeutic activity in the treatment of cancer.14. The composition of claim 12 wherein the solid particulate materialis or comprises at least one of a selective estrogen receptor modulator,an aromatase inhibitor, a signal transduction inhibitor, a drug thatmodifies the function of proteins that regulate gene expression andother cellular functions, a drug that induces cancer cells to undergoapoptosis, and a drug that interferes with angiogenesis.
 15. Thecomposition of claim 12 wherein the pharmaceutically active ingredientis one or more of tamoxifen, toremifene, fulvestrant, anastrozole,exemestane, letrozole, imatinib mesylate, dasatinib, nilotinib,bosutinib, lapatinib, gefitinib, erlotinib, temsirolimus, everolimus,vandetanib, vemurafenib, crizotinib, vorinostat, romidepsin, bexarotene,alitretinoin, tretinoin, bortezomib, carfilzomib, pralatrexate,sorafenib, sunitinib, pazopanib, regorafenib, cabozantinib, denileukin,diftitox, ziv-aflibercept, cisplatin, cisplatinum,(cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)), carboplatin, oxaliplatin, benzylisothiocyanate, acetylcholine, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
 16. Thecomposition of claim 3 further comprising hydrogen peroxide.
 17. Amethod comprising administering a composition of claim 3 to a patient inneed thereof.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the patient has beendiagnosed with cancer.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein thecomposition is administered orally, nasally, subcutaneously,intravenously, intramuscularly, transdermally, vaginally, rectally or inany combination thereof.
 20. The method of claim 3 further comprisingproviding melanin with said tyrosine derivative and said solidparticulate material; and applying said force to said melanin, saidtyrosine derivative and said solid particulate material for a time andunder conditions effective to impregnate at least one of said tyrosinederivative and said solid particulate material with the other of saidtyrosine derivative and said solid particulate material.
 21. The methodof claim 20 further comprising applying an electromagnetic field to saidpatient.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the electromagnetic field isfrom radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light, ultravioletlight, x-rays or gamma rays.
 23. A composition comprising a tyrosinederivative, melanin, and a solid particulate material.
 24. Thecomposition of claim 23 wherein the tyrosine derivative is one or moreof methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(2-chloro-4 hydroxyphenyl) propanoate,D-tyrosine ethyl ester hydrochloride, methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(2,6-dichloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) propanoateH-D-Tyr(TBU)-allyl ester HCl, methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(3-chloro-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl) propanoate, methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(2-chloro-3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl) propanoate, methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(4-[(2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl) methoxy] phenyl)propanoate, methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)propanoate, methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(3-chloro-5-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate, diethyl 2-(acetylamino)-2-(4-[(2-chloro-6-fluorobenzyl) oxy]benzyl malonate, methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(3-chloro-4-methoxyphenyl)propanoate, methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(3-chloro-4-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)propanoate, methyl(2R)-2-amino-3-(2,6-dichloro-3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl) propanoate,methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate,H-DL-tyr-OME HCl, H-3,5-diiodo-tyr-OME HCl, H-D-3,5-diiodo-tyr-OME HCl,H-D-tyr-OME HCl, D-tyrosine methyl ester hydrochloride, D-tyrosine-omeHCl, methyl D-tyrosinate hydrochloride, H-D-tyr-OMe.HCl, D-tyrosinemethyl ester HCl, H-D-Tyr-OMe-HCl, (2R)-2-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, (2R)-2-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) methyl esterhydrochloride, methyl (2R)-2-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoatehydrochloride, methyl (2R)-2-azanyl-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoatehydrochloride, 3-chloro-L-tyrosine, 3-nitro-L-tyrosine,3-nitro-L-tyrosine ethyl ester hydrochloride, DL-m-tyrosine,DL-o-tyrosine, Boc-Tyr (3,5-I2)-OSu, Fmoc-tyr(3-NO2)—OH,α-methyl-L-tyrosine, α-methyl-D-tyrosine, and α-methyl-DL-tyrosine. 25.The composition of claim 24 wherein the tyrosine derivative isα-methyl-L-tyrosine.
 26. The composition of claim 24 wherein thetyrosine derivative is α-methyl-D-tyrosine.
 27. The composition of claim24 wherein the solid particulate material is or comprises apharmaceutically active ingredient.
 28. The composition of claim 27wherein the pharmaceutically active ingredient is one or more oftamoxifen, toremifene, fulvestrant, anastrozole, exemestane, letrozole,imatinib mesylate, dasatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib, lapatinib,gefitinib, erlotinib, temsirolimus, everolimus, vandetanib, vemurafenib,crizotinib, vorinostat, romidepsin, bexarotene, alitretinoin, tretinoin,bortezomib, carfilzomib, pralatrexate, sorafenib, sunitinib, pazopanib,regorafenib, cabozantinib, denileukin, diftitox, ziv-aflibercept,cisplatin, cisplatinum, (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)), carboplatin,oxaliplatin, benzyl isothiocyanate, acetylcholine, anddihydrotestosterone (DHT).